Question of Chains vs. Straps

Headache racks are not "useless" but like any other piece of equipment they can only do so much.

One of the company trucks here had a piece of pipe come out of the center of a load and hit the headache rack. The headache rack was dented up pretty badly but that was all. Imagine what that would have done to the back of the sleeper.

Last year I saw a truck in Colorado sitting on the side of the road with some steel bars sticking in the back of his sleeper on his nice newer Peterbilt...He had to stop fast and they slid forward and did quite a bit of damage.

A headache rack would have prevented all of the damage to that truck...That alone makes a headache rack worth the investment, Not to mention the extra storage space.

 

Its been years since I was a flatbedder, but I remember always using trip chains when I felt necessary. And saying headache racks are pointless is just foolish. No, they arent going to stop every load, but that sure do stop some. Even an aluminum headache rack is stronger than the back of a sleeper. I wouldnt pull pipe without a headache rack.

Securing the load is something you obviously never want to do halfa$$ed, because peoples lives are at stake. I

 

I am not a pro trucker but I have been running lowboy and flatbed as needed for my job for ten years. I use as many chains or 4"straps as possible prob overkill but as I see it, it is my job to have a safe load and keep drivers around me safe.

 

The company I work for now has pictures of a truck that was run off the road. It hit a great big rock and stopped the truck dead in its tracks. He was hauling a load of pipe just like whats shown here. The load never moved! Their rules are to put 2 straps on the first row of pipe then over the top of the rest with dunnage between every layer (no pyramid) and straps only no chains. Chains will slip on pipe. I will see if I cant get them to send me the pics of that truck.

 

The customer you are hauling for request either the load be pyramid or stripped not the trucking company. I have never had a load move on me and I have hauled a lot of pipe over the years even when I slammed on the brakes to avoid a pile up in Houston that just happen in front of me. I thought the load shifted as hard as I had to stop but got out and it and it never moved. I don't take short cuts or chances when it comes to tying down loads, it maybe your last one. When I would load pyramid pipe I would belly wrap it three times and strap the load down with two straps in front and a strap every six feet. When the law can see your load as you go by and see how many tie downs you have or see how old they look why would you want to take short cuts.

 

IMO straps should be illegal on steel unless they are being used as extra securement. Straps have to much stretch in them.

 

If the headach rack was such a needed item they would have never let them not be required on trucks and trailers pulling open deck freight.
They are not useless to a person that does not secure there load correctly and the load slides forward in transit but in a wreck 9 times out of 10 the rack will be toast. Do i run one no and i have a nice fancy pete so according to you i should be laughed at. If you tie your load down correctly a headach rack is not needed. Never once in 22 years have i had a load move on me. I was rear ended buy a tour bus doing 65mph while i was doing 25 in traffic and my load of lumber never moved. Buy the way my chains are rolled up in milk crates in my side boxes. Besides a rack is only 4ft high and i see alot of pipe load higher than the rack so what happens to the pipe that slides out above the rack? Right into the cab. I have seen alot of loads where a piece in the middle has slid forward and the cause loose straps or chains 99% of the time. Lazy drivers.

 

4 inch and it looks more like a triangle but its a D ring. Its an awesome way to squeeze the load as you will never have to adjust the snap binder again as you already tightened the chain with the strap in the winch. Never had a load shift on me using this method especially if you double choke the front end in opposite directions.

 

Never have had this issue on pipe, rebar and round stock. A mill I pick up from dont want chains touching the round stock and you have to use belly bands with the straps over the top of the load. It never moves.

 

For pipe like that I use straps. lots and lots of straps!! I gut wrap every layer if I can. chain is slick on metal pipe. as big as I am, I can't get it tight enough to suite me. when I have a load of pipe on I drive alot more defencivly also. Give my safe more room to stop.